Mother spreads awareness on rare COVID complication that claimed teen daughter’s life

A North Carolina mother who lost her teen daughter to a rare COVID complication in children is using her voice to spread awareness.

Alyssa Simons of Charlotte died at age 15 after she tested positive for the virus in March, reports WBTV.

Simons mother, Suzzette Reevey, said the whole family came down with COVID in March, but her daughter was asymptomatic.

But months later her daughter started to complain of stomach and back pain.

Reevey made an appointment to the doctor but her daughter never made it and ended up in the hospital.

“She didn’t make it to the appointment because I had to call 911. The four, five days I was gone, she lost like 40 pounds,” Reevey said.

For the next 10 days, Alyssa was in the hospital.

Doctors diagnosed the teen with a rare COVID complication in children called MIS-C.

Simons Was Diagnosed With MIS-C

MIS-C (Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children) is a condition where different body parts, including some vital organs, become inflamed.

“It’s something serious that a lot of people need to be aware of. Sometimes you may overlook it. A lot of people may have had COVID and you never knew,” Reevey said.

Alyssa came home.

However, days went by and it didn’t seem as if she’d gotten better.

“I started noticing she didn’t want to come down the stairs no more. She started complaining, she was feeling weak,” Reevey said.

An appointment was made to see a specialist but unfortunately the teen never made it.

She died on June 28.

“She wasn’t herself that night,” Reevey said. “Until 3 o’clock in the morning, I was in and out of the room. I stayed 30 minutes with her. My kids were going to summer camp, I was like, ‘I got to get some rest real quick so I can wake up a 6 o’clock to get your brothers and sisters to summer camp.’

“She gave me a hug and I went to go lay down and I came in the morning and she was already passed away.”

Mother Shares Message For Others

Now, Reevey is sharing her daughters story and spreading awareness about the rare COVID complication in hopes of helping others.

“Look at your kids and the symptoms they have. COVID is real and there is other stuff that comes after COVID — which is MIS-C that affects kids 2-15 and it’s not being talked about,” Reevey said.

Reevey also says the ordeal has prompted her and those who are of age in her family to get vaccinated.

She urges others to consider getting vaccinated.

“To get vaccinated, I hope my daughter’s story can save a life. If you’re questioning, getting vaccinated, maybe you reconsider especially with the kids going back to school.”

Back in March, Alyssa was not eligible because she was only 15.

Reevey says her daughter’s death not only has had a tremendous impact on herself, but her other children as well.

“Seeing them and the pain they’re going through and I’m having to be strong for them when I’m not strong myself,” Reevey said. “Today, I was like…no graduation, prom, wedding. I know I have other kids to share this with but with her being the oldest I feel like it’s been taken away from us.”

Signs of MIS-C

The CDC says you should contact your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away if your child is showing symptoms of the rare COVID complication MIS-C.

Some of the signs are:

• A fever and any of the following signs and symptoms:
• Abdominal or gut pain
• Bloodshot eyes
• Chest tightness
• Diarrhea
• Feeling extra tired
• Headaches
• Low blood pressure
• Neck pain
• Rash
• Vomiting